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Biblical Appropriation in The Handmaid’s Tale
Margaret Atwood’s, The Handmaid’s Tale, constructs a near-future dystopia where human values do not progress and evolve, but instead become completely diminished and dominated under the Republic of Gilead. ... The Gileadean society is enforced by many Biblical laws, morals, and themes, yet the Gileadian religious ideologies are based on only a few specifically selected Biblical passages that are taken literally. ... The story of Jacob and Rachel is found in the epigraphs, numerous times throughout the novel, and the school where handmaids are educated is named the Rachel and Leah Re-education Center. ... The passages that are purposely selected by the Commanders support reproduction, encouraging the handmaids to cooperate. ... The means in which the selected passages from the Bible are introduced to the handmaids help manipulate the women to support Gilead’s inequalities. ... In this tape recording, the handmaids are the ones that are symbolically being referred to as “poor in spirit, merciful, meek, and silent.” Gilead distorts this prayer to encourage these traits onto the handmaids by delivering the message that inhabiting these traits will result in being blessed and comforted in Heaven. ... The theocracy of Gilead encourages the handmaids and women in their society to continue to obey the hierarchies of their totalitarian-like regime, and in turn also have them provide children for them. ... Aside from the selected passages from the Bible that serve as a basis and justification to Gilead’s ideologies, Biblical elements are also applied to store names. ... Aunt Lydia is enforcing Gilead’s technique of implementing propaganda by supporting the continuing limitation of women’s freedoms and justifying her beliefs to the handmaids. ... Another common biblical phrase that was often used to describe the Promised Land is: "A land flowing with milk and honey," which was shortened for naming the store. ... Atwood uses these store names to show how Gilead uses subliminal messages to remind the handmaids that the theme of the society is Biblical, which helps manipulate the women into feeling a sense of security.
Approximate Word count = 1887
Approximate Pages = 7.5
(250 words per page double spaced)
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